Tak'dinal is located on the
peninsula of Kr'ull in the eastern area of
Northern Sarvonia. It may be the darkest point in all of
Northern Sarvonia. Some argue that it is
actually the Deep Winds Portal in Osthemangar that has this distinction.
However, that is a nexus point that allows Coór
to come closest to the world, and since Coór
in and of himself is not truly evil, it must be Tak'Dinal which has the dubious
honour of this position. It was the ancient fortress of the Chosen
Eckra the Cruel. During the Battle
of the Winds he was destroyed and the united armies of
Northern Sarvonia spent years cleaning up
after his dark magics, which included leveling
Tak'Dinal. It once again came into prominence as the source that twisted
Aváth'caó into Gouran. It sits there like a blight upon the land, seemingly
awaiting for another errant hero to twist to its needs.

Picture description.The forsaken Chosen Keep
of Tak'dinal, once home of Eckra the Cruel. Image drawn by Seeker.

Description. It is
said that in the heights of its dark glory the fortress was like a black
festering wound that rose up out fo the earth to match the very mountains to
the south of it. The following passage is the only record that has survived
from those ancient days. It comes from an Injerín history concerning the Years
of Cleansing.

"We came out of the West after the horrific Battle of the Winds, seeking all
that remained of Eckra's dark
pupils, so we might put a final end to his evil. In fury and righteeousness we
rode into the desolate wastes that is named the Forbidden Zone. I saw black
towering walls of stone and knew that we were close. To my amazement we
traveled for some time before reaching the towering structure. I craned my neck
until it nearly came off my neck and still I could not see all of the towers
from where I sat upon my horse.

We pulled up before an enormous iron gate incised with all manner of archaic
symbols and designs. There was a silent dread that crept into the combined host
as we wondered one and all how we would accomplish the task of destruction set
before us. Battlements with jagged teeth and towers with staring windows seemed
to mock me. I know not if this despair was but a trick of the enemy or that of
our own minds. Luckily one of the few foes left upon the walls cried in pain as
an arrow appeared in its throat. With that cry, the spell was broken."

While not the most descriptive passage, the perspective of size along with the
ruins that are found today does make it seem a formidable fortress indeed.
Another testament to its strength and the fell power it contains is the simple
fact that despite the best efforts of elven
mages, dwarven stone melders, and
human sorcerers, all that could be brought
down were most of the walls. None of the unknown number of lower depths were
cleansed as many were lost in the attempt. It was hoped that the outer
destruction of Tak'dinal would be enough.

The land today is still a blighted waste, despite the attempts of the
Artyrhon when they were known as the
Folkmore. Many walls stand still and several of the towers remain, though
ruined. No battlements or butress is the height that it once was, but they are
impressive still. Stone blocks of black granite half a man in height lay
stacked upon each other. Walking to the edge of a shattered wall, one can see
how it is constructed. The block that is the front of the wall is two fores
thick. Behind the front block lies a compressed mixture of rubble and volcanic
ash one ped thick that is encapsulated by another block of stone in the rear.

When walking through the towering ruins one comes upon stairwells, ramps, and
gaping holes that all lead down to some indeterminable depth. Indistinguishable
sounds can at times be heard on the stale breeze. This simply gives rise to
more fear as one gets closer.

Picture
description. The location of the ancient ruins of Tak'dinal, near the
Ebony Lake of the Peninsula of Kr'uul in Northwestern Sarvonia. Map by
Artimidor.

Location. The ruins sit
near the shores of the Ebony Lake, at the foothills of the Mountains of
Despair. The lands around Tak'dinal are known as the Forbidden Zone, for long
ago it is said that Eckra cast a
spell which forbade any vegetation to grow or any animal to inhabit the area.
These areas are all located upon the peninsula of Kr'uul. It is further
seperated from the rest of
Northern Sarvonia due to the mighty river known as the Waters of Divison.

Myth/Lore. Many
Kuglimz, some
Meladrhim, even a few
Kurakim have ventured down into the
depths of Tak'dinal. It is surmised that they have met their end either by
magical traps, fearsome creatures, or at the
hands of orcs or dinali rumoured to survive in
the lower regions. Some fear that those souls that would be heroes are instead
transformed much as Aváth'caó and join the darkness of the deeps waiting for
another as powerful as Gouran to come lead them.